Dubai, which has metro and tram lines and Salik toll gates, has improved in recent years and the report was released last week as it was announced that Abu Dhabi is also to introduce road tolls.

“Obviously In Dubai, they built the tram system and the Metro and that’s the kind of infrastructure investment you would hope to see if you want to tackle congestion," said Graham Cookson, chief economist and head of research at INRIX and visiting professor of economics at Surrey Business School.

"How effective road tolls are depends upon whether or not commuters have some good alternatives.”